[April 11, 2014]CHICAGO — As the spring thaw begins, Gov. Pat Quinn announced
$100 million from the Illinois Jobs Now! construction program to
repair municipal and township infrastructure throughout the state.
The funding will help communities throughout Illinois combat
potholes and make other critical infrastructure repairs following
the historic winter weather Illinois faced.

The announcement made Monday is part of the governor's agenda to
create jobs and build a 21st-century infrastructure that will drive
Illinois' economy forward.

"The extreme and historic winter has left many roads in rough
shape," Quinn said. "This investment will help local communities
repair the damage done by Mother Nature and improve the quality of
life for residents and businesses."

The announcement includes approximately $5.8 million for local
governments in Fulton, Livingston, Logan, Marshall, Mason, McLean,
Peoria, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford counties. The projects will be
selected and managed locally, with the Illinois Department of
Transportation providing oversight.

"This capital funding for local transportation projects shows our
continued dedication to supporting local governments," said IDOT
Secretary Ann Schneider. "These local projects will improve the
quality of life for residents, stimulate the economy and address
immediate infrastructure needs."

The funding is the last of a series of annual transportation
investments that municipalities have received through Quinn's
Illinois Jobs Now! program since 2010. In his fiscal 2015 budget
address, the governor proposed a bipartisan working group to develop
a new capital spending plan for the next five years.

Late last week two bond rating agencies released their reviews of
Illinois' finances ahead of the upcoming sale of $250 million in
general obligation bonds that will finance roads, bridges and
schools around the state. While they say the state still has work to
do, the rating agencies note the hard work the state has done to cut
costs, pay down old bills and pass a comprehensive pension reform
plan. Both agencies agreed that the governor's proposed budget would
bring long-term fiscal stability to Illinois.

Accordins to Fitch Ratings, "The governor's recommended budget
for the coming fiscal year would ... provide a basis for the state
to achieve fiscal balance."

In addition to the Illinois Jobs Now! funds announced, local
governments in the counties listed above will receive more than
$33.4 million in motor fuel tax funds this year.

For a list of the local governments receiving funding through the
announcement Monday, visit
www.dot.il.gov (PDF).